An Ode to Holiday Indulgence!
“Tis holiday season and a time for fun, ne’er a thought of dieting, no not even one. I’ll eat what I like, indulge in some wine, bring on the cookies, it’s treat eatin’ time!
A bit of some pie, a slice of the cake, Januarys coming, resolutions I’ll then make. I won’t worry now, what time I would waste, I won’t eat that much, simply a taste.
I promised myself, I’d diet next year, I promise I will, you’re reading it here. In the scheme of things, what’s a pound or two? I’ve lost it before, I’m sure you have too!
The holidays bring out the child in all, naughty or nice, you make the call. Doesn’t really matter, I’ll do what I like, because after December, I’ll bond with my bike.
I’m not going to worry, I’m not going to cry, it’s easy to choose …one more slice of pie! I won’t get caught up in this weight loss game, I’ll let the holidays shoulder the blame.
Spending my time obsessing with food, just brings out my diet ugly mood. So I’ll give up the worry, I’ll give up the fight, and after December I’ll make all this right.
Wait just a minute, let me think here, is this the way to start a new year? To indulge and indulge until I just pop, then January 1st it all comes to a stop?
Is this the way I want things to be? To have all this fun temporarily? What will it mean on January first? The thought of starvation….is there anything worse?
If I have a small taste here and there, no need to abstain come the first of the year. Surely if I practice at a moderate pace, my January weight won’t be such disgrace.
I remember past January’s, that first step on the scale, all I could think was, human or whale? The numbers reflected my imbibing mistakes, I knew I should’ve passed on the goodies I baked. What was I thinking, why didn’t I stop? Dial 911, call the weight loss cop!
Yeah, the thought isn’t pretty, not something I need, so maybe the following words I should heed:
Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night. Do yourself a favor and simply eat right. Once in awhile a treat is just fine, yes, even the occasional glass of wine.
Just keep yourself active and keep yourself fit, I know you can do it, no magic to it.
The holidays are great as long as you know, it’s a temporary season that comes and goes. It leaves behind messes and food galore, yet without even a thought you keep eating more.
So before you get tricked into holiday fun, don’t turn from healthy eating, that’s number one. Get plenty of water, that’s number two and plenty of rest, it helps all that you do. Plenty of fruits and veggies are number four, otherwise healthy eating just goes out the door.
Going through the holidays eating just right, won’t take the fun out of parties at night. Cause on January first when you’re feeling great, you’ll smile as you think about the over-eaters fate!
Here’s to Healthy Holidays!
Fall Brings an Opportunity to Set New Goals!
When I got up this morning and the thermometer read 58 degrees outside, I found myself excited about the arrival of fall. Some of you may think I’m nuts, (I SO love summer), but there is something about the fall air that brings a different kind of energy to great walks or runs. The crisp air seems to energize me and the first smell of a fireplace burning, well, nothing better. Though I look forward to the changing leaves, and gorgeous fall scenery, it’s important to consider exercise plans for the fall/winter season. After all, as the seasons change so does our lifestyle.
Truth be told, once winter weather hits, I’m a wimp. If the temperature drops below 35 degrees F, I’m subjected to my dreary basement and the mundane treadmill run, (yawn). But my best bet to stay motivated is to lay out my goals for spring which conveniently dictates my fall/winter exercise plan. Not only does this strategy help to keep me consistent during a challenging time of year, when spring rolls around, I’m ready to realize my hard work through either a faster run, a further bike ride or my most recent discovery, a better triathlon. (I tried a Tri and I liked it!) The point is, if you have something specific that you’re planning for, you’re far more likely to stay on task and consistent with your exercise routine. We’re all too familiar with the New Year’s resolution dissolution come February, right? The best way to avoid that is to PLAN for something special. It could be your first 5k walk. Plan for a specific time that you’d like to complete the walk, or seek to reach a certain number of walks per month.
Along with staying focus on exercise during the winter months, don’t forget about nutrition planning as well. As seasons change, so do the foods people crave. (For those of you lucky enough to be in warm weather 365, it may not be the same ). If you’re a gardener, consider canning or freezing your harvest. If you’re not in to that, pay attention to produce that is seasonal. There is nothing better than that first roasted butternut squash!
Don’t let a change in weather derail your best intentions. A healthy lifestyle isn’t seasonal, it’s constant. Lay out your exercise and nutrition plans today to help you stay on track and get through what to some, is the most challenging time of year!
Cheers to your health,
Here’s to Healthy 2011 Resolutions!
When I think about the millions of resolution makers, I can’t help but think about those who once again look to January as the miracle month. As far back as I can remember, January has always been the “clean slate” month in that everything you’ve done before can somehow be magically washed away because, well, it’s January.
Unfortunately, as with any undertaking, planning, prioritizing and most important, perspective are rarely part of setting resolutions. Because of this, by February 1st many well intentioned resolutions fade away and people feel that once again they have failed. So, for 2011 why not rethink the changes you want to make? Plan out your strategy and most important, make sure that it’s something that’s really important to you, versus something that someone tells you to do. If I had my way, these are things that I would like to see for 2011 resolutions.
For 2011, I refuse to watch another reality television show again. It takes the focus away from my reality and ironically, gives people a false sense of reality.
For 2011, I will no longer look to the internet as my main source of entertainment, rather look directly in to the eyes of my family and friends, for that is really what makes my life full and happy.
In 2011, I will do my best to stay active and eat well most of the time because diets have never served me well, mentally or physically. I vow to value my health enough to make choices that will enhance the quality of my life, I deserve that.
For 2011, I will not compare. Comparing my life, my body, my car, my house, my kids to others is an exercise is futility and rarely brings any, “ahem”, resolution. If I am making choices that make sense to me and my family then really, who cares what so-and-so down the street is doing? Less external focus and more internal focus is far more productive.
In 2011, I will not allow Hollywood to determine how I should look given that 99% of them have professional shoppers, personal designers, chefs, trainers, make-up artists and well, pretty hefty paychecks. Hollywood is not real life, it is entertainment, and the more everyday folks look to emulate that lifestyle the more their life seems inconsequential.
In 2011, I will seek out positive ways to keep my mind and body healthy, i.e. surrounding myself with like-minded people, avoiding negative internal messages, try out a new activity such as Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, meditation. There is no substitute for healthy habits.
In 2011, I will wake up each morning and remind myself that, “It’s great to be alive!” as shared every Friday by Lin Brehmer on WXRT.
In 2011, I will seek to laugh more, worry less and understand that options for good health and happiness are endless, I just have to be willing to seek them out.So each month, I will choose 1 positive healthy habit to develop. By the end of the year, that’s a serious accumulation of healthy habits!
I wish for all of you a healthy, happy, hope-filled 2011!
Cheers!
JOIN ME ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5TH AT MY STUDIO TO LEARN ABOUT OUR 6-WEEK WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE. ADAGIO TEA WILL BE THERE SERVING UP SOME OF THEIR LOVELY TEAS WHILE YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO FINALLY REACH YOUR HEALTHY WEIGHT GOAL!
New Drive-Thru Diet? Marketing Brilliance Preys on Those Desperate for Weight Loss
Jared Fogle, Subway Spokesperson
Let me ask you a question. Do you know how much Americans spend on weight loss? Some research shows, well over 40 billion, that’s BILLION dollars annually.
Next question, is obesity in our country going up or down? Studies show that adult obesity was up in 23 states last year.
Last question, what individual took the popularity of Subway to a whole new level? That would be Jared Fogle. Yep, he’s the young man who catapulted himself in to commercial stardom by losing weight eating nothing but Subway Sandwiches. Plus, this fast-food chain figured if American’s were spending that much money on weight loss, why couldn’t some of that cash go in their pocket? Something tells me Subway had a very, very good year when Jared gave props to the fast-food chain. Unfortunately, since that rise to fame, Jared was spotted at the airport a few weeks ago carrying around a few extra pounds. My hunch is Subway got boring and life goes on.
This past week, a different fast food chain threw its hat in the ring vying for some of that weight loss money, Taco Bell. Someone in the marketing department took some serious notes from Subway. Welcome to the latest diet, “Taco Bell Drive Thru Diet” in which spokesperson Christine Dougherty claims to have lost 54 pounds eating off the Fresco menu. What a brilliant move by Taco Bell. Although, they make it very clear on their website that it is NOT a weight loss program? Huh? What? I’m confused then. Their whole push is losing weight while living on tacos and burritos. Imagine, being able to have your taco and eat it too! But you know and I know, this “diet” is yet another way for a company to make a lot of money while those that really need to get healthy, do not.
I think we can all agree that weight gain is the result of eating too much and moving too little, right? So sure, if all you do is live off fast food while keeping your calorie count in check you can lose weight, duh. It’s all about a deficit.
The problem I have with this whole thing is that number one, you know and I know fast food isn’t healthy. Although Fresco sounds so healthy, doesn’t it? Again, brilliant marketing. None the less, no matter how you slice it, fast food is typically higher in sodium and the quality of the meat and ingredients is one that I continue to question. Further, at what point does one take personal responsibility by making an effort to LEARN how to eat well sans a gimmick? A gimmick is a novelty and like all novelties, they eventually lose their appeal and all is forgotten.
So, Ms. Dougherty is all over the internet sharing her 54 pound weight loss thanks to the Taco Bell Fresco menu. But, I need to know more. Is that ALL she’s eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner (apparently Jared did that with Subway). Is she exercising? Does she drink soda since she’s at a fast food restaurant? Does she get in healthy fare any where else? And that my friends is the bottom line, WHERE IS THE HEALTH component? I know, I know, she’s lost 54 pounds and at the end of the day, that’s all most people care about. I would surmise thatTaco Bell is very, very happy thanks to someone who did their homework in the marketing department.
I lost 50 pounds, do you know how? Are you ready? I did it by giving up fast food and learning how to eat foods that I actually prepare at home. And you know what else? I’ve kept the weight off for close to 30 years. I have yet to see any of these crazy diets prove longevity.
I really hope that his new diet is short lived. Although sure, it’s great that this woman has lost weight touting fast food as the “secret” to weight loss does not sit well with me. By the way, you can see her on the website in her bikini. What? I wonder if all that driving to and from Taco Bell is what created those amazing abs? I can only hope that this painfully clear publicity ploy will not sit well with others. In fact, rather than trying the Drive-thru diet, my hope is that people will instead drive right on by.
Holiday Parties Sabotaging You? Plan Ahead!
The season is upon us, parties, clients bringing well intentioned “gifts” of food and on and on the food frenzy goes. So, if you’re trying to stay on track and maintain a dedication to healthy living, what do you do? Simple, plan, plan plan.
1. Always eat breakfast and make it a protein filled breakfast so you’re full and not likely to nibble on the office treats that people bring in.
2. Stay hydrated. Remember, often times when we think we’re hungry we’re likely dehydrated. So get in your water, especially if you’re going to a party where alcohol is involved. 2 glasses of water for every glass of alcohol.
3. Bring your own dish to a party. If you’re going to a party where you know the food is not going to be at all healthy, bring your own. There are some fantastic holiday dishes you can make that will not leave you feeling deprived.
4. DO NOT SAVE UP CALORIES! Biggest mistake people make is saving calories and thinking that calories are insignificant. In truth, most people who “save up” their calories for a party are more likely to eat more calories at that one party than they would have eaten throughout the day.
5. Get over the “it’s the holidays” mentality. The problem is, foods that actually used to be reserved for the holidays are around 24/7 and it’s not just holiday food anymore. Sure, if there is something you don’t normally have, go ahead and have a piece or a bite or whatever. But don’t use the holidays to eat in excess, it’s tough on your body and even tougher to deal with come January 1st.
Here’s hoping your holidays are as healthy as they can be, as often as they can be.
Be sure and check out our store for some great “healthy living” gift ideas! Free T-shirt for orders placed BEFORE December 15th!
Supersize Candy Apples? Now That’s Scary!
I have often told my clients that, “Sugar begets sugar.”
Slow Down for Healthy Weight Loss!
Summer has finally arrived! With that, the guilt of weight loss efforts is ringing louder than ever. “Who would have thought summer would get here so fast? Surely I lose this weight by the 4th of July, right?” Wrong.
A common weight loss mistake that people make when desperately trying to get rid of some winter weight is doing too much too soon. Or more defeating, is THINKING they have to do more than their body
Confusing Thin With Healthy
This last week I
Diet, Schmiet….
“You can diet for weight loss, shame, guilt, pressure, etc. But you can not diet forever.”
After 25 plus years in the the health and fitness industry, I’ve seen diets come and go. I believe that if diets really worked, they wouldn’t have to keep reinventing themselves, but they do. Year after year the same top 5 diets reinvent their program offering new hopes, new promises yet the same results, short lived success.
Why is is it that people continue to jump on the diet bandwagon? My experiences tell me that diets are straight forward, you eat this, not that and like magic the weight falls off. You don’t have to think about it, you just do it. It’s easy, or easier.
Billions of dollars are spent every year in the weight loss industry. In fact, there are over 70 different diet pills on the market all promising to help you achieve the “perfect” body. Hmmm.
I tell my clients all the time, if a pill or program came along that actually worked, we’d be listening to Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson or Katie Couric reporting to the world that finally, the “miracle” cure for obesity has been found. That hasn’t happened.
If the truth be known, the secret to being healthy has been right in front of us all along. The tools that we need to lose excess weight once and for all are at our disposal every day. Unfortunately, we often doubt our ability to make the right choices and instead toss our hat into the ring of diet mania. We’re led to believe that diets are the only route to self-discipline and everlasting thinness, not so. Don’t get me wrong, I do know that self-discipline takes place in order for someone to diet, but I think we can all agree that anything new elicits a sense of excitement which makes adherence much easier, for awhile anyway.
As more and more unscrupulous practices in our world are uncovered, I’m hopeful the same will happen in the diet industry. I continue to help men and women discover alternatives to dieting simply by discovering what changes need to take place in their current lifestyle. It’s not a fad diet that dictates healthy living success, but rather practical lifestyle choices. If someone is able to take a look at their lifestyle, and make small, gradual changes that make sense, maintenance is far more plausible. Most important, a healthy body can be realized.
January and February are the biggest months for diet advertisers. Pills, equipment and diet programs begging for your dollars in exchange for the ideal body. Someone is getting the short end of the stick and I’m thinking it’s not the diet companies.
As a fitness professional, I tout lifestyle not diet because at the end of the day, there is nothing you can change if you’re not willing to change your lifestyle. Experience in the industry has shown me that changes have to be implemented gradually, they have to make sense and be appropriate for one’s physical abilities. Too often, weight loss is an all or nothing approach.
As we head in to heart month, think about making changes in your lifestyle for reasons other than weight. A by-product of healthy living is a healthy weight. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
Resolutions – Easy to Make, Easier to Break
There is no question that November 1st kicks off the food frenzy. As food and drink run rampant, deserts are added to most peoples diet as a new food group. With the knowledge that January 1st is around the corner, it
